The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-26
CRAZED BY A LAWYER
A Cross-Examination Which Made Wit
ness Reason Totter on Its Throne.

| ness Reason Totter on Its Throne.
What ruined me and got me into s
lunatic asylum was this: | used to have
a strong contempt for lawyers. !
thought their long cross-examinations
were brainless dialogues for no purpose.
Lawyer johnson had me as a witness in
a wood case. In my direct testimony /
had sworn truthfully that John Hall
had cut ten cords of wood in three days.
Then johnson sharpened his pencil and
commenced examining me.
"Now, Mr.. Perkins," he began, how
much wood do you say was cut by Mr..
Hall?n
Just ten cords, sir" 1 answered,
! boldly. Il measured it."
That's your impression?"
ayes. sir"
"Well, we don't want impressions,
sir. What we wants is facts before this
jury-f-a-c-t-s, sir, facts!'
1.-The witness will please state facts
hereafter" said the Judge, while the
crimson came to my face.
"Now, sir" continued johnson,
pointing his finger at me, evil you
swear it was more than nine cords?"
Eyes, sir. twas ten cords just"
There! never mind" interrupted
johnson. "Now, how much less than
twelve cords were there?''
1.-Two cords, sir"
"How do you know there were Just
two cords less, sir? Did you measure
those two cords, sir?" asked johnson,
savagely.
! mo, sir, ="
"There, that will do! You did not
measure it. Just as | expected. All
guess-work. Now, didn't you swear q
moment ago that you measured this
wood?"
/ Eyes, sir, but"
] stop, sir! The jury will notice this
discrepancy"
/ 'Now, sir" continued johnson,
slowly, as he pointed his finger almost
down my throat Now, sir, on your
oath, will you swear that there were
not ten cords and half?"
Il tS, SlI, L answered.. llcehlN.
"Well, now, Mr.. Perkins, | demand
a straight answer-a truthful answer,
sir"
"T-t-ten c-c-ordsr" l answered.
hesitatingly.
"You swear it?'
"I-I-d-d-do."
! "Now," continued johnson, as he
smiled satirically, 'do you know the
penalty of perjury, sir.
Eyes, sir, think
son your oath, on your solemn oath,
with no evasion, are you willing to per-
jure yourself by solemnly swearing that
there was more than nine cords of
wood?n
"Yes, sir. I"
"Aha! Yes, sir. You are willing to
periure yourself, then? Just as /
thought (turping to the judgeD you
see, your Honor, that this witness is
prevaricating He is not willing to
swear that there were more than nine
cords of wood. 1t is infamous, gentle
men of the jury, such testimony as this.
The jury nodded assent and smiled sar-
castically atme.
Now said johnson. 81 will ask
this perjured witness just one more
question. will ask you, sir-do you
know-do you realize, sir, what an
awful-a-w-f-u-l thing it is to tell
lie?"
Eyes. sir, said my voice trembling.
"And knowing this, you swear on
your solemn oath that there were about
nine cords of wood?'
mo, sir, Idon't do any thing Of
Hold on, sir! How do you know
there were just nine cords?"
81 don't know any such thing, sir!
l.
"Aha! you don't know, then? just
as l expected. And you swore you did
know Swore you measured it. Infa-
nous! Gentlemen of the jury, what
shall we do with this perjurer?"
"But /"
"Not word, sir--hush! This jury
shall not be insulted by perjurer."
"Call the next witneSs"
This is why am keeping books in a
D,,4